Before departing to prepare dinner wanted to be sure you have the opportunity to read these very important statements:

U.S. Reply to Russian Federation Comparison of Crimean Crisis to Kosovo

As delivered to the Permanent Council by Ambassador Daniel B. Baer,

Vienna, March 13, 2014

Sorry Mr. Chair, I was hoping to allow you to conclude, but I really do think this is important, just so that we’re clear on the facts of this latest assertion.

President Obama addressed this yesterday in the press conference following the Oval Office meeting with Prime Minister Yatsenyuk, and he said, “I know that we’ve heard form the Russian Federation the that these kinds of decisions are often made in other places, and they’ve even analogized it to Scotland or other situations of that sort. And in each of those cases they’ve cited, decisions were made by a national government through a long, lengthy deliberative process. It’s not something that happens in a few days, and not something that happens with an outside army essentially taking over the region.”

Kosovo emerged as an independent state after many years of international negotiations through the UN to resolve the crisis. In Crimea, Russia and illegitimate local authorities have rejected multilateral diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation and, instead, continue military actions and fostering separatism.

Kosovo welcomed engagement from international bodies. By contrast, Russian forces and citizen militia groups have threatened and prevented high-level visitors and observer missions from international organizations like the OSCE from monitoring the situation in Crimea.

Kosovo’s independence had its roots in the violent, non-consensual breakup of the former Yugoslavia, and the State-sponsored ethnic cleansing that Kosovo endured at the hands of the Milosevic regime. As the world knows, despite Russian assertions, there is no evidence of infringements of minority rights occurring in Crimea or elsewhere in Ukraine, let alone a situation with any similarities to the humanitarian catastrophe that occurred in Kosovo.

I think it’s fine for Russia to make arguments about self-determination, etcetera. But I think we all need to remember that this situation is not similar to other situations; the analogies do not hold up to the facts. That doesn’t mean the Russian Federation is not entitled to launch legalistic arguments. It just means that we should all remember the facts. This is a referendum that is taking place, essentially, at the barrel of a gun. It won’t be legitimate in Crimea, and it wouldn’t be legitimate anywhere.

I don’t know how this will stop – in virtually every democracy the majority seem to be voting for those who want to hit on the poor and give to the rich. It was horrid in the 1980s but so much worse now. Can’t even blame GOTV in my world – everyone votes.

I think I despise Paul Ryan on the same level as I despise Dick Cheney. Why pundits consider him a “brain” I’ll never know. Of all the hypocrites…..lived on social security, went to college on the government, etc, etc……now wants no one else to have any help. There has to be a stronger word than hypocrisy.

😉 Yes ma’am, a week and a day to go! 😛
Also, too, enjoy your musical night out with young nephew. Tomorrow, right? (The old brain’s way of working is puzzling to me. Stalls at basic (personal) information, yet pops other info into my mind at odd moments. smh)

Ah, I knew Chris Botti when he was a little boy, he moved to Italy with his parents, where I was studying in Pavia, Italy. 1967-68. He spoke excellent Italian and went to a public school with the Italian kids.

Update on our fellow TODer @CarolMaeWY – she is receiving appropriate care from her ophthalmologist for a significant medical issue with one of her eyes. She asked that I send her greetings to all of you. Please keep her in your thoughts.

Just had to post this before departing, as follow up to a comment posted in a previous 13 Mar 2014 TOD thread ….

“A pro-Russian Ukrainian energy magnate with connections to senior British parliamentarians has been arrested in Vienna at the request of the United States following an FBI investigation.

The Independent revealed last week the links between gas billionaire Dmitry Firtash and senior Conservatives John Whittingdale, the chair of the powerful Commons media select committee, and Lord Risby, a former vice-chairman of the Conservative Party and shadow minister for Financial Services.

Both Parliamentarians are on the board of the British Ukrainian Society (BUS), an organisation with strong ties to Mr Firtash, who was one of Ukraine’s most powerful figures under the country’s deposed President Viktor Yanukovych.

And in a development described by experts as “seismic” Mr Firtash, 48, was arrested yesterday by the organised crime unit of the Austrian police. The energy magnate is alleged to have paid bribes and formed a criminal organisation, according to the warrant which was issued after the FBI began investigating him in 2006, according to the Austrian Interior Ministry.”

Will post some additional comments tomorrow about the wisdom of President Obama re: Syria, and the realities of Russia’s port at Tartus, Syria, in the context of Russia’s highly restricted access from their Crimean ports to the Mediterranean, and points beyond, due to Turkey’s control of the Bosphorus Straits. Needless to say, my efforts to convey the significance in an 140 character tweet are paltry compared to President Obama’s strategic brilliance. But, hopefully, his colleagues to whom the tweet was addressed, if they ever see it, will notice that some of us are paying attention to reality. BTW, the tweet I’m mentioning is up thread: https://theobamadiary.com/2014/03/13/peace-of-mind/#comment-975645

Despite all the posturing, all of the lies and the smears, and all of the feet-stomping tantrums from the GOP and teabaggers, President Obama and the Democrats scored a major victory. Earlier today, the Senate Republicans finally caved regarding the unemployment extensions; and they’re paid for in part by taxes on large corporations.

…

The bill backdates all unemployment extension to December 28 of 2013, and extends coverage up to five more months. This means that the 2 million people who were cut off unemployment because of the political farce that calls itself the Republican party didn’t extend the unemployment benefits at the time. What’s more, the CBO states that this unemployment extension could save 200,000 jobs, so it’s not just the unemployed that will benefit from it

…

while the Senate Republicans have caved, it’s a question of whether or not the hardline extremists and economic terrorists in the House are willing to budge (answer: no). And it still has to pass the House. Boehner is required to work with the Democrats if they want to turn this major victory for the Democrats into a major victory for everyone.